Riding Spirits

Riding Spirits

CW EVALUATION

A video qame that won't raise the dead

DEVELOPED BY SPIKE OF JAPAN AND brought to you by BAM! Entertainment, Riding Spirits is rated E for "everyone"-everyone who has a PlayStation 2, that is.

The introduction to the game is

a little unusual-some redirect of childhood dreams accompanied by line drawings and dramatic music to put you in the proper frame of mind. We were a little uncertain of what that frame was supposed to be, though, so we sought some help from the Cernicky family.

Son Eddie, 6, was a little put off by the intro, calling it a “freaky commercial.” He then picked a Kawasaki ZX7R (one of 200 possible choices), green Kushitani leathers (nearly as many options) and a matching Arai helmet. StoneyMaze, Eddie’s track choice, was difficult, the lack of definition between the walls and track surface making it tricky to discern between going down the road and going down for the count! He lost interest in a hurry, promptly asking if he could play Tony Hawk 4.

Wife Megan’s experience playing Riding Spirits was a bit different; said she, “Matching an outfit to your bike is

pretty cool, but the game lacks responsiveness. Trying radical tricks matched to modern music as on Jeremy McGrath’s game is way more entertaining.” Husband Mark favors more realistic video games that take players to the world’s renowned racetracks; Riding Spirits ’ imaginary circuits didn’t raise his spirits, let alone an eyebrow. Leaving black lines out of corners isn’t an option on this game, either. Another recruited for an opinion was Cycle World's Assistant Art Director, Brad Zerbel, whose favorite thing about the game was that it included a red Kawasaki Zephyr 750, a bike he once owned but never thought he’d see on a racing game. Brad-a man with ample gaming experience-relayed that he wants to have fun pulling off stuff that you wouldn’t think of trying in real life because of the consequences. Big crashes you wouldn’t walk away from, and tumbling and cartwheeling into fences or gravel traps don’t exist in Riding Spirits, so where’s the fun in that?

DETAILS

BAM! Entertainment, Inc. 333 W. Santa Clara St. #716 San Jose, CA 95113 408/298-7500 www.bam4fun.com Price $50 A Great selection of bikes A Cool gear owns v Not very exciting v Poor music selection

Simulator games such as Riding Spirits often reward players who take the time to master the controls and learn the many facets of the game. Sorry, but we couldn’t muster the necessary patience. □